Mancini won't be bullied - Dabo

13 July 2011 04:00

Ousmane Dabo has warned Carlos Tevez he will not succeed in a battle of wills with Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini.

Tevez had his hopes of a quick exit from the Eastlands outfit dashed on Tuesday when City rejected a £40million bid from Brazilian side Corinthians. In addition to being £10million below their asking price for Tevez, City were unsure as to how the payments would be structured.

"Mancini won't be bullied by anyone, that is for sure," said one-time City midfielder Dabo, who was signed for Lazio by Mancini in 2003. "He will handle the situation very well. If he wants Tevez to go, he will let him go. If he wants him to stay, he won't let him leave."

Dabo is part of the New England Revolution squad that will tackle Manchester United at the Gillette Stadium on Wednesday evening in the first game of their five-match US Tour.

It is a coincidence, given the man who infamously attacked him on the City training ground, Joey Barton, has been denied a US visa for Newcastle's short tour due to his criminal record.

"I don't want to speak about him," said Dabo. "It went to court and he pleaded guilty. It was over from that moment. I don't know what he is doing and I don't care."

Although the Barton incident stained his time at City, which by his own admission was also pock-marked by too many injuries, Dabo still has fond memories of his time in the north west, not least because his fiancee comes from there.

"I still follow Manchester City," he said. "But it is amazing how things have changed in such a short space of time. Now there is only Micah Richards and Joe Hart from when I was playing. Every other player has left."

The familiarity for Dabo comes through Mancini, whom the Frenchman insists betrays his calm exterior with an inner steel capable of resisting the toughest of opponents.

"He has a big temper," warned the midfielder. "He has to speak with big players who have a big ego. In that situation, you have to be strong because it is important to handle the team."